A consultation with young people has resulted in important recommendations related to the Labour Migration Policy, Prime Minister Robert Abela said on Monday, adding that the recommendations will be included in the final document which will be published as part of the public consultation.

The Prime Minister said this as he met with the elected executive of the University Student Council (KSU), which the Office of the Prime Minister said was done in order to highlight the importance of the involvement of young people in the design of the country’s policies. The OPM stated that Abela was speaking of recommendations which recently came out of the Youth Advisory Forum.

Abela spoke about the importance of meetings such as that of the Youth Advisory Forum and the KSU and remarked that he would like such meetings to continue being held regularly. He said that the Labour Migration Policy will address the labour sector and continue taking important decisions in favour of the dignity of workers as well as the need for foreign workers in sectors only where necessary.

Abela commented that every meeting he has with young people is of great value, adding that he considers it as a Cabinet meeting, “Youth Cabinet”. He referred to Malta Vision 2050 and said that it incorporates the aspirations of young people, among them the education and environmental sectors. He continued that there are strategic goals for these sectors, and added that Malta Vision 2050 includes goals to be achieved by 2035. “You have to be the catalysts that activate this vision and make it a reality. You young people, who want to see a tomorrow better than today.”

The Prime Minister said that the government will continue giving importance to other important themes such as mental health, which he said has continued to be given more visibility in the last budget through more mental health care services in the community.

The OPM said that Abela asserted the importance of discussing themes and raising points against the status quo, and added that the government will continue to invest in young people “because the future of our country depends on you”.

Abela was accompanied by Education Minister Clifton Grima, Parliamentary Secretary Keith Azzopardi Tanti, and the Head of the Secretariat within the OPM Mark Mallia.